This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
South Africa has dismissed reports suggesting that its military equipment exported to Turkey might end up in war-torn Libya.
According to a report in May, six Turkish military cargo aircraft landed in Cape Town, with some planes initially carrying coronavirus medical supplies. However, all planes flew out of South Africa loaded with military equipment purchased from Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM).
The sale of military equipment to Turkey has raised concerns that the arms could be used in the ongoing conflict in Libya. Turkey has maintained a strong presence in the oil-rich north African country, supporting the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.
South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) has since appeared before parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Defence to address the concerns. NCACC chairperson Jackson Mthembu, who is also South Africa's Minister in the Presidency, denied that the arms control body had
